Flush Alignment

Advanced past the front walkway toward the curb line. Embedded in the turf sat a heavy cast-iron utility cover, knocked askew from its recessed collar. The breach exposed a dark gap into cold conduit below. Unacceptable. I braced both boots on the raised rim, clamped my gauntlets around the notched edge, and wrenched the dense iron plate back onto its axis. One sharp downward thrust seated the hatch flush into the metal groove with a solid, echoing thud. The seal holds. Perimeter secured.